Fourth volume of five volume set of diaries kept by Walter Todd, railroad surveyor for Alaskan Engineering Commission in southcentral Alaska. May 19, 1917-Jan. 2, 1918. [199] pages ; 15 cm.
(2:15 min) (22 of 27) Haul Road -- Environmental issues No visible long-term damage today. There was some in the early days. Some spots were really bad looking at the time.
(2:30 min.) (03 of 08) 3. Outside [non-Alaskan] control Still thinks at time of interview that becoming a commonwealth would have been better. Sees a major problem with control in Washington instead of in the states, and the same thing for...
(2:44 min) (14 of 27) Assistance from the community
Alaska Road Commission built roads with the assistance of local miners. The miners would volunteer their time, fuel, and equipment.
(3:05 min.) (11 of 12) Working behind the scenes -- behind the Convention and the effects of the Constitution on Alaska inexperience -- parliamentary law; rules; behind the scenes; 6 men -- spoke at length; time to think; delegates -- speaking...
(3:28 min.) (13 of 28) 13. Whitehorse and Fairbanks
George stayed awhile in Seattle and saw Boeing in full wartime production. Eighteen to twenty B-17's a day were produced. He went to Whitehorse, YT. Bill Lavery was a pilot for Morrison...
(3:33 min.) (13 of 24) 13 Hiring and the unions
Unions started up in earnest in 1935 or 1936. Sometimes you had to work around the union to get who you wanted for your crew. The stewards' crew didn't have much time when they were in port,...
(3:43 min.) (15 of 28) 15. Getting air time
George and a man named Grant Ruth trained as flight mechanics. George did some flying of the DC3's. He wanted to fly other aircraft but there were few civilian planes available for sale or...
(3:46 min) (24 of 27) Road planning and obstacles
Mining drove some of the road planning, but ease was a factor as well. Kennecott and Anaconda Mines were reasons to try and reach Nome. Native Claims Act put lots of right-of-way issues in...
(3:50 min.) (07 of 12) Appropriate balance between outside experts and long time Alaskans good balance; 11 attorneys; Judicial Article -- aware of attorneys; Alaskans wanted to prevent lawyers from being a judge; had to be a long time Alaskan; ...
(4:20 min) (18 of 24) 18 Strikes and Seattle in the 1930's
Smith Towers. Strikes caused lots of problems with tourists; they only had limited time and couldn't afford the time loss. The Steward and the Purser would have to work things out...
(4:27 min.) (07 of 09) 7. Most wanted statehood A majority in Fairbanks and Anchorage wanted statehood. Southeast was the only part of the state with reservations. One delegate resigned just prior to ratification because he objected to a...
(4:38 min) (06 of 17) Flying history, quit commercial flying 1960 quit flying so he could spend summers furthering education. Sam White gave advice, Harold Gilliam, Wien's, the real bush pilots or first wave of air pioneers. More...
(4:40 min.) (12 of 12) Occupation Shemya runway washed away--Took a few days to get back to Anchorage--wrote history of Alaska construction--lots of people wrote it Bush edited--Left over the Alaska Highway--short time in states--then to south...
(4:49 min.) (02 of 09) 2. Important issues. Les was interested in statehood and getting a fair share for Alaska; he was less interested in specific issues. Proponents of statehood wanted to get out from control of the Department of the...
(4:50 min) (16 of 19) Popularity of road travel Was able to work on 35 cars at a time. Traveled to Detroit for a General Motors dealers' convention. Visited family before returning to Alaska. Met, courted and married his wife, Miss Flora...
(5:38 min.) (04 of 27) Early work history
Left Cordova to go to school at Alaska School of Mines and Agriculture (UAF). Took civil engineering courses. By the time he had graduated, the railroads had shut down and there were only jobs in...
(5:54 min.) (16 of 24) 16 Passengers Dropped off Father Hubbard and his assistant, Sam Levenson [?] (later mayor of Irvine, CA). They climbed Mt. Katmai. Engine room boy served as alter boy. John Ford rode the ship; he was a good enough...